• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Thunderbird Club

#52,781
Stuff shipped from the US is liable for VAT charges at the destination wherever applicable.

Also: if a value less than the gear is worth is declared on the customs form and it is lost or damaged you'll only be able to collect that amount from insurance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, GBassNorth, Nocturnal and 6 others
#52,782
clivem said:
@TBird1958 Do you have a contact perhaps, where we might be able to get a definitive answer on the fretboard material. ie. to confirm it is Blackwood Tec, not Rosewood..... Need to be 100% sure of not running into any CITES bullsh!t before contemplating shipping from US to UK.
Click to expand...

Hey Clivem, think i'm quite wrong about the set up part of it, supposedly, that should happen before they reach the stores.
 
  • Like
Reactions: theFixer
#52,783
Dadagoboi said:
Stuff shipped from the US is liable for VAT charges at the destination wherever applicable.

Also: if a value less than the gear is worth is declared on the customs form and it is lost or damaged you'll only be able to collect that amount from insurance.
Click to expand...

Yep, I appreciate that. I know far more about import/export, VAT, duty, insurance....... than most. Used to run a mail order business, with a lot of international sales.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, GBassNorth, Dadagoboi and 3 others
#52,785
clivem said:
@TBird1958 Do you have a contact perhaps, where we might be able to get a definitive answer on the fretboard material. ie. to confirm it is Blackwood Tec, not Rosewood..... Need to be 100% sure of not running into any CITES ******* before contemplating shipping from US to UK.
Click to expand...

At this point I don't have a source to give you an answer regarding the fretboard, I may know more after mine arrives.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, GBassNorth, vandoorn and 3 others
#52,786
JJR58 said:
Hey Clivem, think i'm quite wrong about the set up part of it, supposedly, that should happen before they reach the stores.
Click to expand...
What I'm talking about is that I've seen pictures of the rear of headstock of both Embassy Pro and VP, that has stciker which says "setup in the US". So I'm figuring, like eg. Reverend, they are manufactured in the East, shipped to US for final setup, and then shipped to international distribs from USofA.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, PillO, GBassNorth and 3 others
#52,787
clivem said:
What I'm talking about is that I've seen pictures of the rear of headstock of both Embassy Pro and VP, that says setup in the US. So I'm figuring, like eg. Reverend, they are manufactured in the East, shipped to US for final setup, and then shipped to international distribs from USofA.
Click to expand...

If by 'set up' you mean they remembered to put strings on it, maybe :)

The Embassy Pro I got from Zzounds had a very lousy excuse for a set up. Then again, it took maybe 20 to get it to a playable state
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, GBassNorth, Nocturnal and 3 others
#52,788
clivem said:
What I'm talking about is that I've seen pictures of the rear of headstock of both Embassy Pro and VP, that has stciker which says "setup in the US". So I'm figuring, like eg. Reverend, they are manufactured in the East, shipped to US for final setup, and then shipped to international distribs from USofA.
Click to expand...

You are so correct. But i wonder sometimes with some of the ones i've checked out, meaning past Epi's and the recent Embassy at SA.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, GBassNorth and theFixer
#52,791
lloganbracee said:
Looking at stringing up an Epiphone T-Bird Pro IV that I recently was able to take home. Trying to figure out if this bass model is for me.

What do you guys string your Thunderbirds with, & why?
Click to expand...
There's less than perfect love around here for the Pro IV if it's the active version. At least two of us have ditched the preamp and put in new pickups. Once that's done, it's a stellar instrument.

On to strings. I have Chromes on the fretless 'Bird that started life as a Pro IV. It has Lace Alumitone pickups, which means it's probably useless for any of the usual comparisons. On the Gibsons, I have used a variety of DR strings and EB Cobalt Flats. The '91 has Cobalt flats for now, the '15 has Sun-beams, and the '01 just got restrung with Black Beauties. I'm liking the Black Beauties enough that the '15 may have those when I restring it again in a few months. The '91 is all chromed out, so it will not get black strings, but it might eventually get the silver version of Black Beauties. I don't remember what they are called.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, lloganbracee, Korladis and 4 others
#52,792
Can't find a shot of rear of VP headstock, just the Embassy Pro.....
Screenshot from 2017-11-28 18-01-22.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, GBassNorth, theFixer and 4 others
#52,793
hairypete1138 said:
Is the rosewood thing confirmed? Every set of specs i’ve seen says the fretboard is rosewood. So very confused!
Click to expand...
I'd swear that I'd seen "Blackwood Tec" listed as the fretboard wood on the VP... but now I don't. I've copied a comment that was in the Epi forum, and will paste it here. It sheds a little light on the fact that we're not the only ones in the dark...

"I'm more concerned about what the fingerboard is going to be made out of. Epiphone has removed all mention of fingerboard wood from the specification listings. Gibson Europe says that the Epiphone brand is dropping rosewood and that fingerboards are likely to be made of pau ferro or blackwood tec, a heavily processed and treated type of pine made in China. At the moment they can't confirm what will be on the first batch of these basses. It's all subject to change."
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, GBassNorth, vandoorn and 5 others
#52,800
lloganbracee said:
Looking at stringing up an Epiphone T-Bird Pro IV that I recently was able to take home. Trying to figure out if this bass model is for me.

What do you guys string your Thunderbirds with, & why?
Click to expand...
For standard tuning, I'm quite fond of Dean Markley Blue Steel. Similar to Rotosounds but don't chew fingers and frets like a file. Currently my band is tuned to Drop C. I've got SIT Power Steels (.50-.110 if memory serves) on my Charvel 4B, and both my TBirds are strung with Dunlop Heavy Core "Heavier" sets. Those are .50-.115 IIRC. I like the clank of the Power Steel, but the Heavy Core stay brighter a little longer and I like the clear fundamental they possess. I am anti-flats so I have no recommendation there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hillerup, lloganbracee, GBassNorth and 2 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back